You’re missing the point entirely. It’s not to say that either of the models are or should be separate, rather that they should be working in tandem with each other. If they are truly genuine on not only maintaining a playerbase but growing it there needs to be an option in any capacity to earn cards organically…

You literally do though, that’s where you’re argument falls flat. Say you buy the game $20 on Steam and you don’t like the starter pack you are given, then what? You are hog-tied to the cards given to you and if you want to play a different style of deck you have to invest even more money and even then it’s random…

Or... just or, they could have two entirely separate inventories: One for the “casual” modes which would give players a taste for the game and allow them to construct whatever cards/decks they may want to construct and another for when they want to transition to a more serious and competitive environment in which you…

Having an initial cost to a game where the only way to even get cards is to purchase with real money is not the smartest decision and the backlash they are getting is just and deserved. One of these two things can be true, but if you are going to gatekeep upon gatekeep in a card game then good luck retaining any…